Typewriters



y 2, 1940- H. BATES El AL. 2,206,624

Filed May 10, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F6 0 12 Z7 4-4 G v 79 :19 53 52 .5 2.9

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l 2 l I o 25 47 Y 20 o [i Z1 0 0 a: 7 I (as I l I I amen M A 0 H rry flaws J Lee {Wee/2g,

July 2, 1940. H. BATES. ET AL TYPEWRITER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 10, 1937 M .1, W W. x, w w M W 4.6 a M 4} M M M F? 1 iii m f of am Q IM M M J y 1940- H. BATES El AL TYPEWRITER Filed May 10, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W i 2 6 0 1 1 7 H z 1 a .5 7 4 f 1 a 2a fi 4 a L 5 w 9 v f 4 M .p a w 1 w 6 4 m July' 2 1940. H. BATES ET AL 2,206,62

TYPEWRITER Filed May 10, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 amen Kw .%rry Bates J Lee ,SWeeng GUM Patented July 2,1940

TYPEWRITERS Harry Bates and Joseph Lee Sweeney, New York, -N. Y., assignors to Bates Laboratories, Inc.,

New York, N. Y.

Application May 10, 1937, Serial No. 141,816

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriters and more particularly to a novel automatic action which is substantially noiseless in operation.

The following are some of the objects of the invention:

1. A typewriter action in which the finger keys are so connected with the type bars that each bar may complete its printing cycle before the particular key used for actuating the same has reached its fully depressed position.

2. A typewriter action which may be so ad justed'as to cause automatic action and printing at any desired depression of the finger key.

3. A typewriter action which can be instantly adjusted and re-adjusted to print with any degree of intensity from light to heavy.

4. A typewriter'action which when adjusted for a short stroke by pressure will, as a matter of course, print quietly.

5. A typewriter action of independent but cooperative elements so arranged that the energy or power used is not controlled by the force or manner of striking the finger key but by a. spring or its equivalent which effects the final movement of the type bar into contact with the platen.

6. A typewriter action which by having independent elements makes possible a separate adjustment of the finger key to all gradations of touch from light to heavy without affecting the printing.

7. A typewriter action in which the type bar is finally moved into contact with the platen by a spring-actuated structure or the like instead of by manual power.

8. A typewriter actionin which the type bar is moved into a position close to the platen by pressing the finger key and is then moved the remaining distance by other power means, the power of which is immediately restored after printing.

9. A typewriter action in which the movement of a finger key will cause energy to be stored in a spring or the like which subsequently functions to instantaneously and automatically force the type bar against the platen, whereby all type bars of the machine may be made to print uniformly regardless of whether the touch on the keys is heavy or light.

10. A typewriter action of the foregoing character having means for adjusting the strength or power of the energy-storing means so that a large machine to be conditioned to accord with the,

touch of any individual.

The invention in its several aspects may be better understood and comprehended in connection with a description of certain embodiments thereof, and by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the same. The indicated embodiments are given for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that the arrangements shown and the details of construction illustrated may be widely varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, are longitudinal, vertical, sectional views of a typewriter structure showing our action in various positions and with the finger key lever so connected with the type bar or type carrier that the key lever must rise when the type bar is being retracted.

Fig. 5 is an enlargedsimilar view of a portion of the mechanism but showing the key lever unlatchin'g means ready to operate to allow the key lever to remain depressed while the type bar is being retracted.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the key lever latch released.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, sectional view of a detail taken on the line 7-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a detail taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

, Fig. 9 is a sectional view of another detail taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention and showing the parts in normal or inactive position.

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the same embodiment, but showing the parts in different positions after the key lever has been depressed to a certain degree.

Typewriters generally, depend upon the momentum set up by the operator's fingers to do the printing or to exert the power necessary to cause the final impact of the type bar to leave an inked impression on the paper. In the present invention, the printing action does not depend on momentum supplied by the operators fingers, but

upon spring power or its equivalent. In furnishing such spring power or the like to accomplish the printing, the invention supplies means by which the power thus exerted is renewed or restored ready for the next action of the type bar. This renewal of power is of great importance. In accordance with the invention, the power of the spring or the like is employed to print, but such power is instantaneously restored after printing. The result is that an operator can strike a key quickly, as is the case with all other typewriters, or press downward as slowly as possible, and yet the type bar automatically and without the exertion of momentum will fully cycle and perform its function of printing. In other words, as soon as the key has been depressed, whether swiftly or slowly, to a predetermined degree, the spring or the like will automatically complete the movement of the type bar into contact with the platen, and when the type bar is returned to idle position, the power of the spring or the like will be restored or made ready for a succeeding cycle of the type bar.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, ||I designates a typewriter frame; II, a platen; l2, a platen carriage; and i3, inking mechanism. These elements may be of any preferred construction as they simply cooperate with our improved action.

l4 designates a type member which for the purpose of the present invention may be a lever or bar having its lower end pivotally connected to the frame as shown at l5 and provided at its upper end with a type face l5 designed to force the ribbon against paper arranged about the platen.

I designates a finger key element which may be a lever having its rear end pivotally connected to the frame as shown at I8 and provided. at its forward end with a key l9.

In accordance with the present invention the means l4 and i1 are connected by mechanism including a toggle, so mounted as to move the type face i8 toward the platen until the toggle assumes a substantially straight or dead center posltion, at which time a portion of the mechanism will be released by a latch and the toggle and type member will be moved instantaneously into I contact with the platen by energy-storing means,

such as a spring, that is activated by the movement of the type lever.

In the embodiment of the action illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the toggle comprises links 28 and 2| pivotally connected together at 22. The link is pivotally connected at its rear end to the type bar, and the link 2| is pivotally connected at 24 to one arm 25 of a three-armed lever that is pivotally supported at 26 by the frame of the machine. The three-armedlever has depending arms 2'! and 28; the former being connected by a coil spring 29zto one arm 30 of a bell crank lever, pivotally mounted at 3| on a plate 32 which may be moved forwardly and backward ly, by means hereinafter described, to adjustthe tension of the spring 29.

A link 33 pivotally connects the bell crank 34 to a lever 35 arranged substantially parallel to the key lever and pivotally mounted at 35 on the frame. The levers l1 and 35 are latched together by a detent 31 having a hook 38 engaging a complimentary hook 39 on the lever 85,. The detent is pivotally mounted at 48 on the lever i1 and it has a cam-faced tail 4| fora purpose hereinafter described. Any suitable means, such as a spring 42, which connects the parts 81 and I1, may be employed to'hold the detent 81 in latching position.

A spring 43 connects the lever I'I to the frame for yieldingly holding said lever in normal position.

Another spring 44 is employed to hold the lever 35 in normal position and this spring may be connected to any suitable means employed to adjust its tension. For example, it has one of its ends secured to a bell crank lever 45 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 46, and may be swung by means hereinafter described.

A relatively long link 41 has its lower end pivotally connected to the lever 35 and its upper end the bell crank lever with the frame and acts to pivotally connected to one end of the toggle link 2|, and it is therefore obvious that if the link is moved downwardly, the toggle link 2| will pivot at 24 and move the other toggle link with it,

and of course, this results in movement of the 5 yieldingly hold its other. arm 49 in contact with a stop 5|. When the last-mentioned arm is in normal position it cooperates with the upper end 52 of the three-armed lever to prevent the latter from swinging in a clockwise direction. However, if the link 41 moves' downwardly and the toggle link 2| is swung in a counterclockwise direction, a cam 53 integral with the toggle link will come into contact with the lever 49 and turn the latter to a position where it will no longer obstruct the movement of the three-armed lever,

and at such time the spring 29 will function to instantaneously move the type face into contact with the platen. I

It will be noted that the arm 28, when the parts are in normal position, engages a grooved member 54 on the lever 35 which also acts to prevent movement of the three-armed lever in a clockwise direction. However, the lever 85 moves downwardly with the key lever and at such time the member 54 will be moved out of engagement with the arm 28. When the lever 35 is moved upwardly, of course, the member 54 will engage the arm 28 and act to return the three-armed lever to normal position.

The operation may be readily understood by as illustrated in Fig. 2. At such time the type b face It has been broughtinto close proximity to the platen but slightly spaced therefrom. Further depression of the key l9 causes the cam 53 to release the latch lever 49 with the result that the energy-storing means or spring 29 now acts instantaneously to shift the pivot 24 of the toggle as well as the toggle toward the platen so that the type face immediately strikes the platen a sharp blow.

When the key I9 is released or pressure is removed from the same, the springs 43 and dunetion to return the levers l1 and 95 to normal position, and as the latter lever rises it engages the arm 28 and moves the three-armed lever in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 28 to restore that lever to normal position. Then the spring acts to re-set'the latch lever 49.

From the foregoing it will be understood that depression of key i9 simplyacts tostore energy in the spring. 29 and to set the type lever l4 in the platen with equal force regardless of the force exerted on the keys and this results in uniform and quiet typing.

The degree of energy stored in the spring 29 can be varied so as to take care of more or less carbon copies. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the plate 32 which carries the bell crank lever 34, 30 slides in a guide slot 55 in the frame. The carriage or plate 32 can be adjusted in its guide slot by any suitable means. For example, it may be provided with a threaded pin 56 which is fixed to the carriage and extends through the front portion 51 of the frame. A hand nut 58 is swiveled in the front portion of the frame and has threaded engagement with the pin 56, and it is manifest that turning of the nut will result in forward or backward movement of the carriage 32.

The means for adjusting the tension of the spring 44 may be the one illustrated specifically in Fig. 7. Here it will be noted that one arm 59 of the bell crank lever 45 extends into an annular groove 60 in a screw member 6|. The latter has threads 62 at its inner end, engaging a nut 63 that is fixed to the frame. The screw member also extends through the front portion 51 of the frame and is provided with a handle or knob 64. If the screw member 6| is turned it will function to swing the bell crank 45 about its pivot 46 with the result that the spring 44 is tensioned to the degree desired. A stop pin 65 on the frame cooperates with an annular groove 66 on the screw member to limit adjustment 'of the latter.

By adjusting the tension of the spring 44 the machine may be conditioned to take care of a heavy or light touch of individual typists.

The mechanism as described, necessitates return of the key lever to normal position in order to restore the type lever to normal position but by means of the feature now described, the type lever will return to normal position even though the key lever is held depressed or pressure is not released from the same. This is best illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 9. In these figures it will be noted that the cam tail 4| can cooperate with a slidable pin 61, which acts to obstruct the downward movement of the detent. It will be noted when the key lever I! is" depressed from normal position (Fig. 5), the cam tail contacts with the pin 61 with the result that the detent is moved in a counter-lockwise direction as shown in Fig. 6. Of course, this results in releasing of the hook 39 by the hook 38 of the detent. Consequently the spring 44 will act to restore the parts to normal position even though the key lever is held down in the position shown in Fig. 6. However, as soon as the key lever is released, its spring 43 will lift it and the cam faces of the hooks 38 and 39 will co-act to guide the hook 38 into latching position.

The pin 61 may be moved into projected or retracted position by means of a lever 68 which is pivotally connected to the pin as shown at 69. The lever is pivotally mounted on the frame as shown at 16 and it has a handle or knob ll arranged at the front portion of the machine. Of course, when the lever is swung in the proper direction the pin 61 will be retracted so that it will not interfere with the detent 31.

The mechanism isprovided with suitable buffers 12, I3, 14, and 16 to cushion the move-- ment of the parts and to substantially eliminate noise.

In the modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11,

the frame of the machine is shown at Illa and the platen is indicated as Ila.

A type bar l2a is pivotally suported by the frame of the machine as shown at I31; and is provided at its upper end with a type face Ma. A toggle link I5a has one of its ends pivotally connected at l6a to the type lever, and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to a second toggle link I'Ia, the latter being pivotally connected at lfla to the upper arm |9a of a twoarmed lever that is pivotally supported at 20a on the frame of the machine. The two-armed lever forms a shifting pivot means for the toggle so that the latter may be bodily moved toward the platen when the toggle is in a zone of substantially dead center, i. e., when the toggle is in substantially straight position.

A normally extended or expanded spring 2la connects the upper end of the arms l9a to a forwardly and backwardly adjustable member 22a, which is on the frame and heldin adjusted positions by screws 22b. The spring, of course,

acts to move the toggle bodily toward the platen' when the arm l9a is released by a latch 23a. The latch is pivotally supported at Ma on the frame of the machine and it is yieldinglyheld against a stop 25a by a spring 26a. A nose or cam 21a onone of the toggle links functions to 'raise the latch to releasing position when the link Ila is swung in a counter-clockwise direction by the downward movement of alink 28a. This link is pivotally connected at 29a to one end of the toggle link Ha, and is pivotally connected at its opposite end as shown at 3011, to a lever 3| a that has one of its ends pivotally supported at 32a by the frame of the machine. The opposite end of this lever is yieldingly supported by a spring 33a, which has greater strength than the spring 2 la. A cam 34a on the lever cooperates with the second arm 35a of the two-armed lever for the purpose of restoring the power of the spring 2 la and returning the structure to latched position.

The finger key lever 36a is shown pivotally supported at 31a by the frame of the machine and it is yieldingly held in raised position by a spring 38a. A hook detent 39a is pivotally mounted on. the key lever and cooperates with a hook 46a on the front end of thelever 3Ia. When the key lever is depressed, the detent causes lowering of the lever 3la until the tail Ma of the lever'contacts an abutment 4211 which causes the detent to swing about its pivot and release the hook 40a. As soon as the release occurs, the spring 33a immediately lifts the front end of the lever 3la. A spring 43a and cam faces on the detent and hook cooperate to cause the detent to again engage the hook 40a when pressure is released from the key.

In the operation of this form of the invention, when the key lever 36a is depressed, the detent 39a will pull down' the lever 3la so as to release the cam 34a from the arm 35a. At the same time the link 28a swings the toggle link IIa in a clockwise direction which tends to straighten the toggle and to move the type lever toward the platen. Just before the type bar reaches the platen, the cam 21a will release the latch 23a and at such time the extended spring 2la will move the type face Ma instantaneously into contact with the platen. At this time the lever 36a will have been depressed to the point where the detent releases the hook 40a and consequently the spring 33a will come into action to immediately lift the lever 3la. As this lever rises, the cam 34a will engage the arm 35a and swing the two-armed lever in a counter-clockwise direction while the link 28a is restoring the toggle to collapsed position. Of course, when the two-armed lever has been swung far enough, the spring 26a will bring the latch 28a again into latching position. Then if the pressure is removed from the key lever, it will rise under influence ol the spring 38a and the detent 'will again come into engagement with the hook 400.

Any suitable means such as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, may be employed for adjusting the tension of the Springs 2la and sea.

It will be observed that the spring 29 in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, and the spring Zla in Figs. 10 and 11 function difierently. In Figs. 1 to 9, the spring 29 may normally be in a contracted or non-extended condition, and it is extended when the finger key lever is depressed. The spring 2 la, however, in Figs. 10 and 11 is normally in an extended position and when the lever illla rises after a printing cycle, the cam 34a cooperates with the lever arm 35a to cause extension of the spring 2Ia. when the structure is restored to latched condition.

It is obvious that means other than the spring 33a may be employed for restoring the power of the spring Na and returning the structure to latched position. For example, we ay employ an electro magnet which would e energized about the time that the type face strikesthe platen and would be de-energizecl when the parts have returned to latched position.

With reference to the quiet action of the mechanism we may state that the greatest noise in typewriter operation is caused by the impact of the type bar on the paper and the platen. In the present invention, the ac ual typing structure is held back by a latch until the toggle reaches a substantially straight position, when the latch is released to allow thetype bar to fly against the platen. If the type bar werepermitted to fly the entire distance (which is about two and a half inches from rest position to the platen) .it might make as much noise as any of the modern noisy typewriters. However, in the present case,

the type bar is held back until the toggle is substantially straightened out. Naturally, as the toggle straightens out, it theoretically stops, so that the action of this bar is to stop for the fraction of an instant before it prints, and, as the distance it flies is only a fraction of an inch, it decreasesthe noise to just that extent.

Many modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and since the foregoing disclosure has been given by way of example, for clearness and understanding, no unnecessary limitations should be understood and the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the state of the art permits.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patents is: V

1. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen,

type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, means operatively connecting the type means and key means for causing the type means to move into close proximity to the platen when the type means is depressed, a spring cooperating with the connecting means to instantaneously drive the type means into contact ,with the platen when the key means has been depressed to a predetermined position, and other means cooperating with the connecting means to prevent the spring from acting until the key means has been depressed to a predetermined position.

2. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward 'and away from the platen, key means, a toggle operatively connected to said type means and key means, shiftable pivot means for said toggle normally maintaining the toggle in such position that said type means upon application of pressure on the key means will be advanced within close proximity of the platen as the toggle travels from a collapsed position to a zone of substantially dead center, and an energy-storing means for shifting the 'toggle pivot means and toggle toward the platen when the toggle reaches said zone so as to move said type means against said platen.

3. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward andaway from the platen, key means, a toggle operatively connected to said type means and key means, shiftable pivot means for said toggle normally maintaining the toggle in such position that said type means upon application of pressure on said key means will be advanced within close proximity of the platen as the toggle travels from a collapsed 2' position to a zone of substantially dead center, and a spring cooperating with said shiftable pivot means for instantaneously shifting the toggle pivot means and the toggle toward the platen when the toggle reaches said zone whereby the 3( type means is driven against the platen.

4. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, a toggle operatively connected to said type means and key means, shiftable 31 pivot means for said toggle normally maintaining the toggle in such position that said type means upon application of pressure on said key means will be advanced within close proximity of the platen as the toggle travels from a collapsed 4t position to a zone of substantially dead center, latching means for preventing movement of the shiftable pivot means toward the platen until the toggle reaches said zone, means for causing the latching means to release the shiftable pivot 4 means when the toggle reaches said zone, and energy-storing means for shifting the toggle pivot means and. toggle instantaneously toward the platen as the toggle reaches said zone for causing the type means to strike the platen. 5

5. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, a pivoted type bar having a type face at one end thereof movable toward and away from the platen, key means, a toggle operatively connected to said type bar and key means, shiftable pivot 5 means for said toggle normally maintaining the toggle in such position that said type face upon application of pressure on said key means will be advanced within close proximity of the platen as the toggle travels from a collapsed position to a zone of substantially dead center, and a spring cooperating with the shiftable pivot means for instantaneously moving said-pivot means and toggle toward the platen when the toggle reaches said zone whereby the type face is caused to strike the platen.

6. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, a toggle operatively connected to said type means and key means, shiftable pivot means for said toggle normally maintaining the toggle in such position that said type means upon application of pressure on said key means will be advanced within close proximity of the piatenas the toggle travels froma collapsed f position to a zone of substantially dead center, a i

, toggle toward the platen when the toggle reaches said zone whereby the type means is caused to strike the platen, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

7. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen,

type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, means operatively connecting the type means and key means for manually moving the type means into close proximity to the platen when the key means is depressed to a predetermined position, power means cooperating with said connecting means for instantaneously driving the type means into contact with the platen when the key means is depressed beyond such position, and means operated by and operatively connected with the key means for.

utilizing movement of the key means to store power in the power means.

8. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, means operatively connecting the type means and key means for manually moving the type means into close proximity to the platen when the key means is depressed to a predetermined position, power means energized by movement of the key means and cooperating with said connecting means for instantaneously driving the type means into contact with .the platen when the key means is depressed beyond such position, and latching means cooperating with the power means to prevent functioning of the power means until the type means has been moved into close proximity with the platen.

9. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, means operatively connecting the type means and key means for first moving the type means into close proximity to the platen and then substantially halting the type means when the key means is manually depressed, and power means operatively connected to said connecting meansfor instantaneously driving the type means into contact with the platen when it has been brought into close proximity thereto by the key means.

10. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, means operatively connecting the type means and key means for first moving the type means into close proximity to the platen and then substantially halting the type means when the key'means is manually depressed to a predetermined position, and power means operatively connected to said connecting means for instantaneously driving the type means into contact with the platen only when the 'key means is de-' pressed beyond such position. I

11. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, key actuated means for moving the type means into close proximity to the platen, power means controlled by the key means and operatively connected with the type means for driving the type means into contact with the platen after the type means has been moved toward the platen by the key-actuated means, and independent power means for restoring the power 0! the power means and returning the type means to normal or retracted position after the tape means has con 12. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, key means, means operatively connecting the type means and key means for first causing the type means to move into close proximity to the platen and then momentarily halt when the key means is depressed, and energy-storing means co-operating with the connecting means to instantaneously drive the type means into contact with the platen only when the key means has been depressed to a predetermined position.

13. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, a key element, connecting means opera tively connecting the type means and key element for causing the type means to move in a path into close proximity to the platen when the key element is depressed to a predetermined position, an energy-storing device operatively connected with one of said means to rapidly drive the type means in said path into contact with the platen when the key element reaches such predetermined position, retaining mechanism associated with the energy-storing device to preventthe latter from acting upon said type means until the connecting means has reached a predetermined position, and a contrivance controlled by one of said means and engageable with the retaining mechanism to release the latter to cause the energy-storing device to act.

14. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen, type means movable toward and away from the platen, a key element, connecting means operatively connecting the type means and key element for causing the type means to move in a path into close proximity to the platen when the key element is depressed to a predetermined position, an energy-storing device operatively connected with the connecting means to rapidly drive the type means in said path into contact with the platen when the key element reaches such predetermined position, retaining mechanism as sociated with the energy-storing device to prevent the latter from acting upon said type means until the connecting means has reached a predetermined position, and a contrivance controlled by said connecting means and engageable with the retaining mechanism to release the latter to cause the energy-storing device to act.

15. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen,- type means movable in-a curvilinear path toward -and away from the platen, a key element, connecting means operatively connecting the type means and key element for causing the type means to move in said path intoclose proximity to the platen when the key element is depressed to a predetermined position, an energy-storing device operatively connected with the connecting means to rapidly drive the type means into contact with the platen when the key element reaches such predetermined position, latching mechanism engageable with the energy-storing means to preventthe latter from acting upon said type means until the connecting means has reached a predetermined position, and means mounted on said connecting means and engageable' with the latching mechanism to release the latter to cause the energy-storing device to act upon the 

